Middle English Dictionary Entry
successī̆f adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | successī̆f adj. Also successife, -ive, suscesive. |
| Etymology | OF successif & ML successīvus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Received from a predecessor; (b) following one after another in time; (c) having successive stages or parts; ~ aggregat, a sum consisting of parts which succeed each other in time; (d) ~ of, after (sth.), following; ben ~, to proceed, continue.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.283 : Kenulphus..havynge successyve hate of Offa his predecessor [Trev.: After Offa he took wreþe; L successivum ab Offa suscipiens odium] ageyne men of Kente, ȝafe soore batelle ageyne men of that region.
b
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.117 : Yorke hathe..subiecte to it..suffraganes of Carduliense and of Durem, of the successiue institucions of whom [Trev.: Of alle þe sees and of chaungynge of here places] somme thynges ar to be seide here by ordre.
c
- ?a1450(1422) Lydg.SD (McC 182)55/9 : Þe sonne..arisith in þe Oryent and, bi successife cours, assendith into þe hieste poynt of þe mydday spere ond þan of his kynde naturell muste descende.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)276 : Thouȝ thou woldist putte a successive aggregate of alle the apostlis and of alle Cristen men, whiche ever weren, ben, and schulen be, to be the chirche of Crist, and therfore that ther is alwey, thorouȝ al tymes, oon and the same chirche..ȝitt herof folowith not that hou ever..holi..this aggregat was in eny tyme before, in his parties passid, so..holi..this aggregat is now in hise parties now being.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)276 : The hool successive aggregat of clerkis is now, which was in the tyme of the apostlis, but in thilk tyme this aggregat was a worthier witnesser of our feith than was Scripture; therfore so is this aggregat now.
d
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)81b/a : Vlcerez þat comeþ suscesyue [Ch.(2): by successioun] of sikenessez ar of yuel curacioun.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)341 : Yif a man haue deep impressioun, That ovirlordshipith his imagynatif..the cours be forth successyf To trowe a wiht for love mor fayr or pure Than evir hym ordeyned hath God or nature.